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My husband and I went to Whole Foods today to get a salad. (I think it will be a while before we do that again) Dang expensive! It was very good though!

I just like to walk around that store, and look at all the fun things. It's amazing to me, that food has changed since I was a kid. I remember eating bolony and cheese sandwiches, and at that time we didn't know anything about nitrates, which is the big proponent of cancer. We didn't think at all about how cheese affects your body. The science wasn't there. I also remember how cheap it was for my parents to by halibut, and oh how I loved that fish! Again no science.

As in a lot of grocery stores they have tables set up to sample new products. We talked with a lady selling a new bar made with dates. Nothing can replace my Lara Bars! Anyway...... we got to talking to this lady about our plant based diets. She said I'm mostly plant based, but I eat fish. "How can you not eat fish" she says. "It's so healthy!" She talked about being vegan, but in the same breath said that fish was good for you. Is it?

Okay, I will admit when we lived up in North Idaho we did consume fish as we thought it was the healthier alternative to red meat. I also ate a lot of fish growing up, because we were led to believe that it was healthly! As I have come to find out through research, it is not a healthier alternitive. Fish has just as much saturated fats that any other meats do. The other problem with fish, is it also has high levels of mercury, and pollutants from our oceans and lakes. We just watched What The Health on Netflix, and they talk a great deal about fish. I highly recommend watching this film. So informative!

I have learned so much over the last year and a half about how this lifestyle is so much better than how I was eating as a kid, but again the science wasn't there when I was a kid. There was no education about things we put into our bodies. It makes perfect sense to me. It's like putting the wrong fuel in a car! I'm so thankful that now we have cleaned up our diets, and are becoming healthier and healthier.

Do you ever eat when you are bored? Do you eat when you are watching a movie? Do you eat at specific times during the day? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner? I have been and still am guilty of doing this!

I remember when I was raising my three children. At times I would place food in front of them when the clock struck 12:00, and was very worried when they didn't eat or they just ate a bite or two. Then during checkups I would mention it to the doctor, and she said, kids eat when they are hungry. How did we get on the band wagon of eating during certain times? Maybe because that's what our parents did, and their parents etc? Seems like it's a culture thing. The American diet has taken a turn, that I'm not sure will ever get rectified.

When I started this lifestyle, I still went along with 3 meals a day, and 2 snacks. I often still, when I'm not at work eat 3 meals a day. This is a hard habit to break.

Okay, but I still haven't answered the question of what is intuitive eating. Intuitive eating is eating only when you are hungry, and stopping when you are full or satisfied. Intuitive eating is listing to your body, feeling those hunger pains in your stomach. I have noticed that some days I'm hungrier than others. Some days I eat when I'm bored. With all my children far away in college, I often find myself in the pantry trying to see what there is to munch on. I need to find a hobby, and now that the weather is nice I need to venture outside.

On days that I work at the hospital, I wake up at 4:50, and hurry to get ready. I have to leave at 6:10. At that time in the morning I'm not hungry at all. I drink a liter of warm water with 1/2 of a fresh lemon squeezed into it. I still have to take my Celebrex for my knee, so I generally eat a cracker of sorts so my tummy doesn't get upset. Later on in the morning when things have quieted down at the hospital, I feel my tummy start to rumble, and I take a quick break to go eat some oatmeal that I prepared the night before. That seems to help, and off I go for another few hours.

Our lunches don't start until after our patients have eaten. Generally around 1-2. Some days, I don't get hungry again until 3 in the afternoon, and depending on what is going on, or who has had lunch I can get away with eating that late. Then when I get off at 7:00 pm, I'm not hungry at all, or I have a light snack when I return home. Sometimes just a good drink of water is all I need. Then I'm off to bed so I can get up for another long 12 hours shift at the hospital. Generally I can go 16 hours without eating again. This is intuitive eating. I just struggle with it at home, and probably because I'm home with my hubby, or just don't have enough to do to keep me out of the pantry.

Benefits of eating this way are you really become in tune with your body. You don't over eat, and you lose weight. I am still hanging on to weight, but I know if I just eat intuitively that the weight will come off. I have over eaten when I go out of town, and then when I come home I eat this way, and the weight comes off again.

Here is a video from High Carb Hannah. She makes a lot of great points for intuitive eating.

My hubby and I came back from Salt Lake City this past week, and we had lots of discussion about the way we have chosen to eat. We always have great discussions, and we always read
from some of my favorite books like The Starch Solution, The China Study, and How to Reverse Diabetes. We always learn something new.

One question that my husband asked and one that others have asked is what is the difference between vegans and vegetarians. This is my understanding. Vegetarians eat lots of veggies and fruit, but they also consume dairy and eggs. Which I don't totally understand, if you are going to give up things why not just give up everything that is bad for you, but..... to each their own.

Vegans on the other hand are a bit more complicated. When I started this whole adventure, I was considered to be plant based, meaning I didn't give up meat and dairy for the animals. Being plant based is mainly for health reasons. As a plant based eater we also try, (notice I say try) to not eat anything processed like oils or junk food. Vegans eat oils, and junk food. Vegans can and will eat oreos, potato chips, coke, etc. They are PETA people, and I don't mean people eating tasty animals. They will fight to the death to save animals which after I started this I learned so much about the cruelty that happens to the animals people eat, and I have to agree that what happens is awful. I don't think I would protest a farm though as I'm kind of a chicken.

I have been on facebook groups where stanch vegans will get into arguments about leather and handbags. I can say this, that I don't agree with what goes on, but arguing and carrying on gives people the hebbie jebbies. To me it's a big turn off. I would rather educate people and lead by example. Just the way I am.

I have also been kicked off a McDougal group for asking a question about oil, and why a tsp would hurt you. This to is an insult and a turn off. When people ask for help, why not offer all you know without getting your undies in a twist.

I'm happy and proud that I am a whole foods plant based eater. This lifestyle has changed my life and the lives of my family. Really that's all that matters.

About the Contributor

My name is Naomi Rook, and I'm the mom of three children, and the grandma of one beautiful little girl. I have worked in the medical field all my life, and recently as a medical assistant. Health wise I have had a lot of struggles from weight gain to high blood pressure and then diabetes also three years ago I had a blood clot that caused some serious damage. One of my favorite subjects is nutrition. For years I have read a lot of material on diet. I have tried everything from fasting lemonade diets, to weight watchers, to high fat diets. 6 months ago I started reading about plant based diets and decided to give it a try. This is my journey...

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Disclamier

I'm not a licensed medical professional, I'm not giving any medical advice. I'm also not a licensed dietitian or nutritionist. This plan works for me and could work for you. If you have any questions or need medical advice please seek help from a medical provider.